If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. To Paul, the sovereignty of God was not an excuse to avoid his human obligations or his personal responsibility; it was the motivation for him to live responsibly. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. In the early church there was a problem. The broad issue is that of leadership. The precise status of Julius is difficult to determine: from the authority which he assumed when once (from Myra onward) he found himself on board a ship of the Alexandrian grain fleet, it might be inferred that he was a frumentarius, an officer charged with supervising the transport of grain (frumentum) to Rome. Bruce p. 477. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. Given all these factors, the ship set sail from Fair Havens. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Here are some examples of their leadership. . The meeting's facilitator will be acting democratically if they actively seek out the team's thoughts and opinions and encourage them to voice them. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. An elder must live a blameless life. The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. We're sorry, an error occurred. To sail on, therefore, was a foolish decision in Pauls opinion, and thus he discouraged it as strongly as he could, but to no avail. Neither Lasea nor Fair Havens is mentioned by any ancient writer, two of the hundred cities of Crete. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 460. Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. Democratic Leadership Examples President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was famously democratic in his leadership style, once said that "leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well." But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. It has long been acknowledged as one of the most instructive documents for the knowledge of ancient seamanship. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 474. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. God has given each leader specific gifts. The Greek-speaking Jewish believers complained that their widows were being overlooked in the distribution of food when compared to the widows who were Hebrew-speaking. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. 72-73, p. 480. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. If you possess these types of qualifications, would that make you a better leader? To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. They had little to gain and much to lose. He arose, then, for two reasons: (1) his shipmates were in desperate need of encouragement, and (2) he now had a word from God for them. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. All rights reserved. It is only when all hope is lost that Paul addresses his fellow shipmates.557 Much time had passed, the storm had not diminished, the ship was being constantly mauled by the storm, and the passengers had gone a long time without food. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Time would prove Paul right. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. Humanly viewed, Paul was constantly in grave danger, but he was never more safe or secure than when he was on his way to Rome. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. 15:24; 16: 2-3). Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. When the outcome is known, and the One who determines it is both faithful and sovereign (in control), the danger of harm is removed, along with the need for fear. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. The hour is hopeless. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? The short version is that there was a plot to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai got wind of the plot. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. Pauls leadership emerged in a democratic society. We are told that the majority reached the decision to sail on, rather than to winter in Fair Havens. "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. They boarded this ship and set sail. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Now, no one had the use of this boat. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Because it was a part of Gods sovereign plan, God did purpose to spare Paul and the ships passengers, but in a way that would to some seem only like good luck. The miraculous aspect is seen in Pauls prediction of what happened in complete agreement with all that did happen, even to the minute details. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. His leadership was built not so much on ancestry from the Jewish lineage as by faithfulness. It was the crew of the ship who lived dangerously, foolishly risking the ship, the cargo, and the lives of all on board, just to get ahead a little. If Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. Think of it. Now they were ready for the days activities. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. He did get disgusted. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. During the night, an angel of God had appeared to Paul, with a sure and certain word about the future, a word that would bring encouragement to all on board ship. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. All must abandon ship now. Read Chapter All Versions. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. The encouraging news that Paul was about to tell them was that he was both right and wrong when he had warned them not to sail. Clearly the answer is yes. He . The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. 546 With the westerly winds which prevail in those seas, says James Smith, ships, particularly those of the ancients, unprovided with a compass and ill calculated to work to windward, would naturally stand to the north till they made the land of Asia Minor, which is peculiarly favourable for navigation by such vessels, because the coast is bold and safe, and the elevation of the mountains makes it visible at a great distance; it abounds in harbours, and the sinuosities of its shores and the westerly current would enable them, if the wind was at all off the land, to work to windward, at least as far as Cnidus, where these advantages ceased. Examples have not been reviewed. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . You are the devil's advocate. Paul was overruled. The chapter may therefore be outlined in this way: One way or the other, Festus must have found some way to explain Pauls appearance before Caesar. But it is here, in our text, that I see Paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he is doing. One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. I do not agree. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. But what are some of these purposes and promises? With great difficulty, the dinghy was hoisted on board, and then supporting cables were used to undergird the bottom of the ship, so that it might not break up under the weight of its cargo and the stresses of the storm. This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. Scripture offers examples of both. How this decision would be regretted, and soon! Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. He portrays Paul in many roles throughout Acts, but here he shows him standing out as the practical man in a critical emergency--keeping his head when all about him are losing theirs. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. 541 Lukes narrative of the voyage and shipwreck of Paul on his way to Italy is a small classic in its own right, as graphic a piece of descriptive writing as anything in the Bible. Related articlesHow and Why Should I Pray for Leaders?An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others, Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. Indeed, the fate of the ship was not exactly as Paul had warned, for there was no loss of life.551 He simply spoke as a seasoned traveler, an astute observer, and one who had experienced dangers at sea. The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." 542 The ship in which they embarked belonged to Adramyttium (modern Edremit), a seaport of Mysia in northwest Asia Minor, opposite the island of Lesbos. He must live wisely and be just. The dangerous season for sailing began about September 14 and lasted until November 11; after the latter date all navigation on the open sea came to an end until winter was over. Paul had a fair bit of experience with sea travel. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 31 What then shall we say to these things? This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. (1 Kings 18:27). My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. They would hardly wish to be close to shore in the storm anyway, for there was more danger of the ship breaking up on the rocks than of it breaking up in the open sea. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. Proud member Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. I read in the paper the other day that when faced with the decision as to whether he should change to an alternate airport or press on to the original destination, the pilot of a commercial airliner left the choice with his passengers. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. It will, however, come eventually. Moses is remembered as the liberator, the leader, the law-giver, the prophet, and the intermediary in the covenant between God and the Jewish people. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. Great leaders wash their people's feet. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further.
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